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Six Local EMS Agencies Receive Award From American Heart Association

NORTHWEST ARKANSAS (KFSM)–Six agencies were honored during the EMS Quality Awards Ceremony on Wednesday (June 8) at NWACC Center for Health Professions in...
Heart Ball

NORTHWEST ARKANSAS (KFSM)–Six agencies were honored during the EMS Quality Awards Ceremony on Wednesday (June 8) at NWACC Center for Health Professions in Bentonville.

Travis White, Siloam Springs Fire Department Deputy Chief of Operations and paramedic, shared his story of going into cardiac arrest. His teammates quick action saved his life.

Every year, more than 250,000 people experience an ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and over 350,000 experience cardiac arrestthe two most deadly types of heart attack. Treatment of heart attack patients is extremely time-sensitive – especially for these patients. To prevent death, it’s critical to restore blood flow as quickly as possible.

Unfortunately, a significant number of STEMI and cardiac arrest patients don’t receive this prompt reperfusion therapy, which is critical in restoring blood flow. Mission: Lifeline seeks to save lives by closing the gaps that separate these patients from timely access to appropriate treatments. Mission: Lifeline’s EMS recognition program recognizes emergency medical services for their efforts in improving systems of care and improving the quality of life for these patients.

Emergency Medical System providers are vital to the success of Mission: Lifeline. EMS agencies perform 12-lead ECGs which measure the electrical activity of the heart and can help determine if a heart attack has occurred. They also follow protocols derived from American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology guidelines. These correct tools, training and practices allow EMS providers to rapidly identify suspected heart attack patients, promptly notify the medical center, and trigger an early response from the awaiting hospital personnel.

“EMTs and paramedics play a vital part in the system of care for those who have heart attacks,” said Cammie Marti, Arkansas Director of Quality and Systems Improvement for the American Heart Association. “Since they often are the first medical point of contact, they can shave precious minutes of life-saving treatment time by activating the emergency response system that alerts hospitals. We applaud the six agencies achieving this recognition, and following evidence-based guidelines in the treatment of people who have severe heart attacks.”

Arkansas agencies to receive the 2016 Mission: Lifeline® EMS Gold Level Recognition Award:

  • Bella Vista Fire Department
  • Rogers Fire Department
  • Springdale Fire Department
  • Washington County Regional Ambulance Authority- Central EMS, Fayetteville

The criteria to achieve the Mission: Lifeline EMS Gold award is based on meeting the achievement measures aggregated annually for two years with no single measure scoring below 75 percent.

Arkansas agency to receive the 2016 Mission: Lifeline® EMS Silver Level Recognition Award:

  • Fort Smith EMS

The criteria to achieve the Mission: Lifeline EMS Silver award is based on meeting the achievement measures for one year with no single measure scoring below 75 percent.

Arkansas agency to receive the 2016 Mission: Lifeline® EMS Bronze Level Recognition Award:

  • Siloam Springs Fire Department

Agencies that receive the Mission: Lifeline Bronze award have demonstrated at least 75 percent compliance for each required achievement measure for a minimum of one quarter.

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